Fresenius Kabi, a business segment of the health care group Fresenius, has signed definitive agreements to acquire APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading manufacturer of intravenously administered generic drugs (IV generics) in North America.

According to a Fresenius Kabi press release, APP shareholders will receive a cash purchase price of US$ 23.00 per share and a registered and tradeable Contingent Value Right (CVR) that could deliver up to US$ 6.00 per share, payable in 2011, if APP exceeds a cumulative adjusted EBITDA target for 2008 to 2010.

Based on the cash purchase price, the transaction values the fully diluted equity capital of APP at approximately US$ 3.7 billion. Fresenius expects the acquisition to be neutral to EPS in the first year and clearly accretive from the second year onwards.

The acquisition is an important step in Fresenius Kabi's growth strategy. Through the acquisition of APP, Fresenius Kabi enters the US pharmaceuticals market and achieves a leading position in the global IV generics market. This North American platform provides further attractive growth opportunities for Fresenius Kabi's existing product portfolio.

APP focuses on IV generics for hospital use and distributes its products in the US and Canada. The company employs around 1,400 people and has state-of-the-art production facilities in Illinois, New York and Puerto Rico as well as a subsidiary in Toronto, Canada.

With a portfolio of more than 100 products, comprising drugs for oncology, intensive care, anaesthesia, analgesia as well as drugs for the treatment of infections, APP holds an important position in the North American hospital market. The company has a strong drug registration pipeline covering all of its product segments.

In 2007, APP achieved sales of US$ 647 million and an adjusted EBITDA of US$ 253 million. The company's latest published guidance for 2008 forcasts sales in a range of US$ 730 million to US$ 750 million and an adjusted EBITDA in a range of US$ 285 million to US$ 300 million.

As part of this transaction APP will merge with a US subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi. The definitive agreements include a written consent and voting agreement with Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, APP's founder and shareholder of over 80 per cent of the outstanding stock. The transaction has been approved by APP's board of directors. Following the closing of the transaction, Patrick Soon-Shiong will serve as a non-executive director on the board of Fresenius Kabi's US Holding company. In this role, he will continue to contribute to the company's strategic development.

Dr Ulf Mark Schneider, chairman of the management board of Fresenius SE commented: "APP is a fast-growing, highly profitable company and a strong management team that has an excellent market position in the US. Our firm very much shares APP's dedication to quality and medical excellence for the benefit of patients. The acquisition provides significant growth opportunities for Fresenius Kabi. With the APP platform, Fresenius Kabi will be able to market its product range in the US. Fresenius Kabi's international marketing and sales network will allow us to sell APP's products globally. We welcome APP employees to our team and very much look forward to serving the North American healthcare community."

Patrick Soon-Shiong said: "We are proud to have consistently provided injectable pharmaceutical products of the highest quality to patients in the acute care setting over the past decade. In Fresenius we have found a partner with the same commitment to quality and dedication to patient care. The combined company will allow for the rapid globalization of APP's portfolio with the same high levels of quality and patient commitment for which we have become known, while at the same time providing a more comprehensive and complementary offering of injectable pharmaceuticals, devices and delivery systems to customers worldwide."

The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Fresenius anticipates closing the transaction at the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009.